In a pivotal summit held in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged European Union leaders to adopt pragmatic and forward-looking strategies amid escalating global uncertainties. The meeting, which commemorated 50 years of EU-China diplomatic ties, comes during a tense period in their relationship.
“Amid the unprecedented global transformations and complex international challenges, Chinese and European leaders must make responsible, history-aware decisions that align with the people’s expectations,” Xi stated, as reported by China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
The comments followed Xi’s meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, both of whom traveled to Beijing for the 25th EU-China Summit.
While the event was more subdued than earlier envisioned — initially planned as a two-day meeting in Europe — it marked the first face-to-face EU-China dialogue since 2023. The session comes as the two powers grapple with tensions over trade imbalances, differing stances on the Ukraine conflict, and concerns about China’s perceived support for Russia.
Despite these frictions, both sides signaled a willingness to cooperate. EU officials expressed cautious optimism, with von der Leyen describing the summit on X (formerly Twitter) as “an opportunity to advance and rebalance our relationship.” She added, “I’m convinced we can achieve mutually beneficial cooperation — one that can shape the next half-century of EU-China relations.”
According to diplomatic sources quoted by Reuters, the two sides are expected to finalize an agreement focused on climate change and carbon emissions, emphasizing shared environmental responsibilities.
Chinese state media also framed the summit as a crucial step toward stabilizing EU-China ties in an era complicated by geopolitical tensions, including those stirred by figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump.
As the world navigates shifting alliances and economic pressures, this summit may serve as a litmus test for whether Beijing and Brussels can find common ground despite fundamental differences.
"Edited and published by Veritas Global News to maintain accuracy and originality"
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